Hellebores

(Question)

I have just seen (January 17th) some beautiful Hellebores for sale, and they are in full bloom. If I purchase them now, where do I store them until I am able to plant them in April. Will they re-bloom in April once planted, or will I have to wait until next year for flowers.

(Answer)

Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners.

Hellebores are a fairly tough group of perennials in the buttercup family (Ranunculus). They flower through winter until spring with the exact time and length of flowering depending on the species or hybrid. The flowers are long lasting.

So, a flowering hellebore this time of year is quite normal. They are unlikely to rebloom in April.

Ideally, you want to plant hellebores as soon as you buy them. They are very hardy and can be planted whenever the ground isn’t frozen.

If you can’t plant now due to frozen ground, I would store the pots of hellebore in a garage or unheated area and bring them outside during the day to get some sun. Storing them in a sunny, sheltered area outside is another possibility. In either case, water regularly, so the soil doesn’t dry out.

Plant your hellebores in a sheltered, semi-shade, well drained location in rich soil. The crown of the plant should be just covered with soil as planting them too deep can inhibit flower production. Once planted, water them regularly each week during the growing season for the first year. Then, water as needed to keep the soil moist but not wet.

Add some compost around the plants every couple of years.

Here are some sources for more information on growing hellebores.